Obituary of Lilian Mulligan

CHESHIRE- Lilian (Babs) Shore Mulligan, 98, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on Sunday, March 27 after a short illness. Lilian was born in London and lived there throughout World War II. She survived the blitz there as a young woman, even though she refused to go down to the bomb shelter due to her fear of spiders. She met her future husband, John J. Mulligan of the Ninth Army Air Corps, and emigrated to the United States after the war ended to begin a life together. They built a home and raised their children in Cheshire, and lived there for more than 65 years. After her husband passed away, Lilian worked at Bovano as a bookkeeper. She supported her family and was with Bovano until she retired. She loved gardening, sewing, knitting, and cooking, and could find a use for just about anything. Everyone looked forward to her apple pies. She was entirely devoted to her family, and her cheerful demeanor guided them through good times and bad. She was admired for that reason from all she met. Lilian was predeceased by her husband in 1964, her son John in 2004 and granddaughter Fae in 2009. She is survived by her daughter Kathy (Murphy) and her husband Kenneth of Budd Lake, NJ, and son Stephen of Cheshire. Also surviving are four grandchildren and their families; Cara (Mulligan) and Joel Renker of Cheshire, and their children Elijah, Sophia, and Olivia, Brenda (Mulligan) and Dimiter Kostov of Newton, MA, and their children John and Mila, Erin (Murphy) and Chris Foster of Haverhill, MA, and their son Jack, and Ryan Murphy, world traveler. Arrangements- Visitation will be held at The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main St., on Thursday, March 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. A Graveside Service for Mrs. Mulligan will start Friday, April 1 at 11 a.m in St. Bridget Cemetery, Higgins Road, Cheshire, 06410. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, and for the delight she took in the talented artists in her family, donations may be made to the Ball and Socket Arts Center at www.ballandsocket.org.